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AIBU?

To ask for your hints and tips re: Belfast

114 replies

HildaZelda · 31/10/2018 21:56

So, DH has holidays which he's now been told he has to take before Xmas or lose them. I work part time so can juggle days a bit.

Anyway, DH was talking about going away somewhere for 3 or 4 days, Because it's only a few days, it can't be that far so we looked at short flights and can do Belfast pretty cheaply for a few days next month.
Neither of us have ever been there before, so before we book anything can I ask if anyone has been, what's it like, is it worth going, hints/tips for what to see and do please?

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Satsumaeater · 01/11/2018 08:38

I don't know how quickly you could get over to Derry by public transport from Belfast but that would also be an interesting day out and you can walk around the city walls.

I've not been to Belfast itself, just flew into City airport, hired a car and spent a week in various parts of Northern Ireland and Donegal. It's a great place for a holiday. As long as you have no expectations of nice weather, but you just never know, you could have a weekend of crisp sunny winter days.

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RuggerHug · 01/11/2018 08:42

Book the afternoon tea in the titanic museum!!!! It's in the first class dining hall set up with the stairs and everything!

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MessyBun247 · 01/11/2018 08:46

I live close to Belfast. I absolutely LOVE it. I’ve been to many cities but there is something about it, it has real heart. You can feel the buzz as you walk about the city but there is a warmth there too, the people are just lovely.

Can’t really add much else to the thread as there has been so many great suggestions. I personally love the Ulster museum, Zen restaurant for brilliant food and cocktails and a walk up Divis to see a breathtaking view of the city (also amazing at night). Oh if you have any veggies in your group, Jumon is meant to be fantastic. I hope you have a lovely time!

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SlatternIsTrying · 01/11/2018 08:52

I feel the need to wave at all the NI people on here and love seeing the support for our corner of the world.

If you want to try and get to grips with our sense of humour/ ability to take the piss out of ourselves have a look at the “Ulster Fry” on Facebook.

For anyone coming over wrap up warm cause it’s Baltic at the moment.

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Cailinnua · 01/11/2018 09:11

Go to the Titanic exhibition first thing in the morning. Belfast is a great city to walk around, wear comfortable shoes.

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2000lightyearsaway · 01/11/2018 09:20

Belfast is a fantastic city steeped in history. The others are right that you aren't going to find an impartial taxi driver, but that doesn't make their take on things any less interesting or valid but just listen with an open mind rather than taking what he or she says as Bible. And the open top bus tours are a good suggestion for a more neutral take.

The shopping is very good and there is plenty of places to eat and drink. The ulster museum is brilliant, as well as Crumlin Road Gaol. The Ulster Folk and Transport museum is also very good if you are in to history.

A bit of a more unique one but the Belfast Giants Ice Hockey team play quite frequently. I went for the first time a couple of weeks ago and it was great even though I know nothing about ice hockey.

If you want to travel up to the north coast as others have suggested there is both the Giants Causeway and Bushmills Distillery, further around the coast there is also carrick-a-rede rope bridge but that would be weather dependent (not too windy).

On a personal note I think for us Northern Irish people it cuts a bit when people call our city dull and dirty because we have come so far in even the last 10 years. Never mind the leap its made in the last 50.

If you do go there is a big visitor centre called Visit Belfast right in the city centre. They are so helpful in there Smile

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jammydodger5 · 01/11/2018 09:27

That's quite nasty bigmy. You seem to leave a trail of nasty and unhelpful comments.
I'm a Belfast native and I find that quite upsetting to here that you find the way we talk annoying and that our city is dull.
The OP asked about hints and tips not what she thought of our accent and she certainly didn't ask you for your opinion on our accent either.
You sound like a dull and nasty person

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WithAFaeryHandInHand · 01/11/2018 09:35

I love Belfast and Derry. I was told
Derry wasn’t nice, so I was very pleasantly surprised when I went there for a break with dh. But I don’t know if it’s too far if you’re only there for a few days. Botanic gardens are lovely and the cathedral quarter. Unfortunately there is (apparently) now a heroin problem in the city, which I don’t remember when I lived near there. I like the area round Queens university, but the holy lands are a bit hit and miss. Maybe that’s where the pp means wasn’t nice near the university.

Malone road is vair naice and Stranmillis too. But the best part of NI for me is the coast. So if try to see as much of that as possible. It’s nicer than anything I’ve seen in the SE of England and A LOT less crowded.

I’d give the giants causeway a miss. Boresville. But that may be because I’ve seen it so many times. Nobody I know from NI actually visits there unless they’re taking visitors.

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WithAFaeryHandInHand · 01/11/2018 09:36

And I’m often complimented on my accent thank you very much and harrumph Wink!

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Jocasta2018 · 01/11/2018 09:50

I was there last month from Tuesday to Friday and absolutely loved the place! We’d gone out for a sports event so were only there for a few days.
Flew into George Best airport and stayed at Premier Inn in the Titanic Quarter (cab fare from the airport only £6!!!).
Initially did an open bus tour which was excellent as you really got a feel for the place. We wandered around the city, were appalled at the burnt out Primark, went to some really nice pubs.
As the weather was gorgeous on one day (20c!), we hired a car and drove up to the Giants Causeway, had a good walk then drove the coastal route back to Belfast - the road was rather narrow in parts with lots of blind corners so a bit scary at times but so beautiful.
Can’t remember the names of the pubs we went to (......!) but felt totally safe walking back.
We spent over 5hrs in the Titanic museum & went back the next day to explore HMS Nomadic.
We also experienced Storm Callum which was pretty amazing - luckily our flight was mid-afternoon so wasn’t cancelled!
We’re going back next year for more sports, over a weekend this time, so I’m working out where I want to go - definitely St George’s Market.
Everyone was really friendly plus I like the accent!

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MissMalteser · 01/11/2018 15:55

Big shout out to all the fellow NIers :)
I sometimes forget how much I love belfast until I come to a thread like this and remember how lovely it is!
Op Belfast is packed with so many different gorgeous places to eat, I would highly recommend hiring a car and driving the north coast, stop off at giants causeway, Ballycastle, Portrush has great nightlife and food down at the marina (highly recommend the gin bar for drinks and snacks, big open fire, live music and craic)
The Titanic experience, museums, Victoria square for shopping, St George’s market if there for a weekend morning, there’s a great vibe throughout the whole city, I love that the Bank building fire (Primark) seems to have brought the city closer, I and many other people I know have made a point of heading into the city in support of the small businesses affected and the atmosphere is great Smile

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peachgreen · 01/11/2018 17:16

Ahh this thread really depressed me yesterday when I first read it and now it's given me the warm and fuzzies. I love Belfast so much and am so proud to live in NI, the friendliest country in the world.

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gelert5619 · 01/11/2018 17:42

Went this May. Very friendly place. Lots to see/do for every taste.

Don't bother getting 'Value' taxi from airport, expensive. Excellent bus service with helpful drivers.

Brendon with his white taxi was a brilliant guide and fine tuned to what I wanted.

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Roamingseams · 01/11/2018 17:46

We fell in love with Belfast this summer. The architecture is stunning and there was so much to see. It gets so little coverage as a tourist destination, but it's lovely. I second the comments about Ulster Museum ( great display about a NI history), Titanic quarter and the hop on-hop off bus. The dock area has incredible views and dd came away seriously considering applying to uni there she loved it so much. I can't wait to go back.

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IStandWithPosie · 01/11/2018 17:55

Some really stupid comments on this thread!

Find an impartial taxi driver!? How exactly? Stop every one and say “excuse me Mr taxi man, are you one of them’uns or one of those’uns?” 😂😂😂

Annoying accent? Flip, can you imagine going to Edinburgh or Paris or New York and complaining about the accent?? What’s wrong with people? Of course the accents are different than yours if you’re a tourist! People expect that.

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newbie23 · 01/11/2018 18:04

sowhatifidosnore has the best itinerary!! Hands down. Just a few points, John Hewitt has been closed and just reopened this week so no idea if it's still as good. Always good when there's music on usually.

GoT actually stopped filming in August so your chances of seeing anyone are pretty slim.

In terms of restaurants I would add in Edo in Upper Queen Street and Babel in St Anne's Square. Both amazing. Pizza Punks as well is good for cheap eats.

Can't believe no one has mentioned Kelly's Cellars?! Brilliant bar and best pint of Guinness in city. Usually can catch a live session as well. The amazing Mourne Seafood Bar is next door. And there's Madden's bar around the corner as well, bit off the beaten track and not as touristy as the crown but great for a good pint and some craic.

As for the poster who aid about it being run down?! No idea what path you took from Botanic Avenue as there's been loads of redevelopment there recently and it's bustling. Can only think you maybe took a wrong turn and walked down Donegall Pass??

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shutlingsloe · 01/11/2018 18:16

Belfast is amazing, went with DP, teen kids and his parents this summer - we actually walked from the Ulster Museum into the city centre down Botanic Avenue/University Road and we all thought it was a lovely area! Got a seriously good coffee at Kaffe O.

We all loved the taxi tour, Ulster Museum, Titanic, St George's Market, coastal tour, shopping, eating, drinking...

Stayed at the Bullitt Hotel and they couldn't do enough for us.

Had an amazing Ulster Fry at Cast and Crew, next to the Titanic.

The people at tourist information are really helpful too.

Thought it was a lovely city with amazingly friendly and helpful people, loads to see, would recommend to anyone.

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Loyaultemelie · 01/11/2018 18:38

As ppl said if a weekend St George's Market, I love it on a Saturday plus in December the Christmas market will be on at the City Hall

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HildaZelda · 01/11/2018 18:38

Thanks again everyone. Loads of great food and drink recommendations there. Don't think we'll manage to get them all in, lol :)
Neither DH or myself are GOT fans, so we'll skip that. We might head to the Giant's Causeway depending on how many days we do go for and what the weather is like.
Can I ask a silly question? I know the main Primark store burnt down recently, but is that the only Primark in Belfast? I always go for a peek in Primark ;)

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IStandWithPosie · 01/11/2018 18:54

hilda there is a Primark store in the bow street mall in Lisburn which is just up the motorway but tbh it wouldn’t be worth taking the detour to Lisburn just for primark. Unless you specially wanted to go to Lisburn and spend some time there.

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treaclesoda · 01/11/2018 19:01

The Primark in Abbey Centre about five miles north of Belfast, is probably better than the one in Lisburn, but again it's really not worth the detour unless you're on your way past anyway. Smile

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Bluelady · 01/11/2018 19:10

I'm married to an Ulsterman who was born in Belfast and I love it, I miss the accent when I come home. My favourite things are:

The bus tour
Titanic Museum - the guided tour is worth the extra
Crown Liqour Saloon
Ulster Museum
Botanic Gardens
Afternoon tea at the Merchant Hotel
St George's market
City Hall - guided tour is great

I've never had a bad meal there and the shopping is amazing. Damn, wish I was going there now.

Oh and check out the sculpture of Belfast women outside the Europa hotel.

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AnElderlyLadyOfMediumHeight · 01/11/2018 19:13

We went for a day on a holiday to NI a few years ago. I wasn't as bowled over by the Titanic museum as I'd expected to be, but it was definitely a good morning-filling visit. Dh and dc went to W5 and loved it (while I went shopping, got comprehensively lost and had a lovely woman take pity on me while I was lugging my heavily pregnant self around trying to find the M&S*). I think dh and I would have happily stayed a few days had we been child-free.

*My excuse is I live abroad and needed a Wensleydale and carrot sandwich.

We were staying on the north coast and I remember it being a couple of hours' drive, so if you do the Giants Causeway you'll need to leave early at this time of year.

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FlaviaAlbia · 01/11/2018 19:14

Primark is supposed to be opening in the extension to the old building before Christmas so it depends when you come.

If you're going to the Causeway, the Bushmills Inn's restaurant is very good but the carvery on Sunday is a so so unless you're a pile it high kind of eater. The Ramore Wine bar in Portrush is amazing for food if you're spending the day at the North Coast, the dessert counter had to be seen to be believed and the rest of the food is always good.

Derry is lovely and you could get the train there and back for the day or drive it.

In Belfast, the Barking Dog on the Lisburn Rd is lovely.

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MadeinBelfast · 01/11/2018 19:47

Agree with all these suggestions 🙂 If you can't go to Primark we have a chain called Dunnes Stores. It's not as 'pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap' as Primark but they do have some good bargains, especially in the children's and homeware departments. There's one right in the city centre.
If you want to do a food or drink tour this company is great: tasteandtour.co.uk

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